Former Waterford manager Derek McGrath reckons Tipperary will do the business against Kilkenny in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC final.

Liam Sheedy’s side will be gunning for their county’s first Liam MacCarthy Cup success since their 2016 victory over the Cats and McGrath, who yesterday said that he might be open to a sensational return to the Deise County hot-seat, expects them to deliver at Croker.

“I fancy Tipp to win it,” he told the Irish Daily Star. “There’s a couple of things. I think motivationally they have a huge advantage.

“He (Sheedy) won’t say it afterwards – but the general perception around Tipperary players is that when it’s put up to them, they kinda shy away.

“That’s something Sheedy will twist in terms of they’ve been questioned on everything. On speed, on character, and there’s a bit of motivational advantage there.

“I think Tipp will come hard with a strong, strong work ethic, almost like we saw against Cork in the first (championship) game. I think John McGrath’s sending off in the semi-final could work in their favour in that there’s a feeling there that perhaps, ‘I nearly let the side down’.

“Even when ‘Bubbles’ came off in the semi-final, he had a little bit of a shake of the head, I thought. He’ll be gearing himself for a strong performance.”

Follow live coverage of Sunday's All-Ireland hurling finals on the hoganstand.com match tracker.

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